Color is deep maroon. Nose is a complex mixture of plum, cassis, and notes of dried herbs, iris and lavander.

In the mouth, strong black cherry and deep red raspberry zing across the palate with an underlying bolt of heat from the alcohol. Secondary notes are of allspice, cumin, cut leafy greens, and clay. On the long and zesty finish: blueberry, black plum, vanilla, and silica. Not a fruit bomb, this is an Iron Man/SEAL team wine: seriously agile, ropy & muscular. This wine can do any task you ask of it, but it will go in with guns blazing and leave you wondering what just happened.

I first opened this wine a month ago, and came back to it again and again (thank you, ArT Wine Preserver!) Each time, my mouth told me to stop thinking about the wine and just enjoy it. Down went the wine, and up went my smile.

When I initially opened this bottle, my reaction was that the wine was just a touch hot, perhaps a bit of a mouthful. But as soon as I paired it with food? Oh yes! My initial choices included chicken fajitas, baked cheese, and grilled steak, and each time Markus’ “Blue” sang, complementing gorgeously. Pro tip: save yourself a sip to pair with a piece of chocolate after dinner, and you will know the meaning of heaven.

While I’m not normally a fan of high ABV wines, after my first couple of tastings, I began to want the wine’s flavor profile all by itself, in the same way I sometimes just want to hit the bike and feel the wind against my face, my heart pound in my chest, the music loud in my head. This wine is as well made as a custom motorcycle: every part is there for a reason, and the sum of the parts is stunning and impressive.

I’m not one to stand back lightly, so here goes: this is a $39 kick-ass red wine that will beat Dave Phinney’s The Prisoner in a blind taste test. For steak houses, they should get orders in early, and for steak or Zinfandel lovers, you heard it from me first: Buy it while you can get it! I’m a huge fan of Phinney, but Markus is the up-and-coming winemaker who is looking to stand with the giants of the game. And his product is limited, for now. I can’t wait to see what Markus Niggli does next- he has extreme talent and seems to want to make the best wines that California can offer in a myriad of styles!

Color is magenta with ruby edging. The gentle nose shows delicate red fruit. The palate features mature cherries, boysenberry, red cassis with soft, velvety tannin, secondary notes of vanilla, potting soil, sour cherry and granite. Medium short finish, this is so easy to drink by itself and pairs easily almost all foods- my favorites include flatbreads, savory soups, and most meats- but it is simply heavenly with dark chocolate.

This could also be a good warm weather wine for those not into pinot or other bold, high acid wines. With an easy-access screw top, this is a great party wine, and one of the most generally ‘easy to drink’ Canadian reds I have tasted to date in the under $20/bottle price range. I’d absolutely keep a few bottles of this in my cellar for occasions where I want a subtle, drinkable red that is easy to serve anytime and then transition into dinner and stay through dessert, or to please the “I only drink red” crowd when I’m serving Puligny-Montrachet. (Hey, that’s OK- drink what you like!)

This wine is compatible and ubiquitous. like the dinner jacket that is flexible enough to dress up your jeans, or dress down comfortably on formal night.

Sorry about the scratch on the label. It in no way affected my enjoyment of the wine!

#MerlotMe

I like this wine. So should any smart wine drinker! But, it’s apparent that in the United States, the Merlot grape sometimes has a bad rap for no good reason. The reality is: Merlot is a great grape as a single varietal, as well as a tremendous red wine blending grape.

From time to time you might find merlot haters. For the average American, films and social media can have major and minor implications, sometimes even just subliminally. When my fellow YSD Alumnus Paul Giammati (as the character Milo) in the 2004 film “Sideways” gave merlot a bad name, yelling “I’m not drinking any (expletive) merlot!” Many viewers remember that scene fondly, while ignoring the fact that in the same film, Milo’s greatest wine treasure is a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc, which is a Bordeaux blend containing – yes, you guessed, it- 40% merlot.

Simply put, merlot is the second-most grown grape in the USA and is critical to many of the worlds greatest wines. We can’t love red wines without loving merlot.

We know this: Miles was WRONG.Let’s all drink the merlot! Hit up your social media outlets with the hashtag #MerlotMe!

My wife “Mrs. JvBUnCorked” is a brilliant, stunning, and gorgeous lady. She also does some really cool things! Often it’s directing or producing theatre, events, and TV shows; sometimes it’s rearing our amazing daughters, being our family’s rep to our beloved neighborhood, or developing new works that make you stop and think. As crazy-busy, type-A New Yorkers, we’ll normally ignore holidays and birthdays, knowing that what really matters in our lives are a few simple things: love, family, passion, & community. Well, for this year’s Valentine’s Day, instead of ignoring it together, we actually celebrated it since we’re apart. Since I’m on the road AGAIN & working in another country, she totally surprised me with some local wine to celebrate this Hallmark Holiday! Yay Mrs. JvBUnCorked! And Yay Canada!

Color is medium straw; the nose offers lemon-lime, lychee and white stone fruit. The fruit profile features white pear with tart apple. After the initial rush to the mouth, medium heat steers across the top palate, with nice, full acidity. Medium in both mouthfeel & body with a tart, mildly bitter aftertaste, this is a great cold weather white that is designed to complement food. I paired this with halal chicken and rice and really wanted to bring a bottle of this to Toronto’s PAI, the best Thai food I may have ever enjoyed (so good we went back 3-4 times each week… REALLY!)

I usually like my rieslings with a tiny bit more sweetness to turn the heat, but I enjoyed the way the Vineland Estates makes no apologies and just IS itself. Like me, it’s an unusual wine: bold, direct, and with a sense of humor, that makes a statement. You’re going to feel strongly about this wine- either for or against, no question. I like it, and for the price, it’s a great option if you like dry riesling!

So tell me- what are you drinking during these cold winter months? Drop me a line @JvBUnCorked@gmail.com or comment below. I have more shows and events to go before I get home, but I’m managing to keep posting on my blog and keep getting great notes from followers and readers.

With a garnet center and ruby edging, the nose offers blackberry, blue plum, boysenberry, lilac and autumnal leaves. On the palate: dark blue fruit, heavy clove and spice box, followed by bittersweet chocolate and forest floor. On the lengthy finish: notes of cumin, cherry, and vanilla.

Featuring big, chewy tannins and moderate acidity, this wine is a mouthful that requires some thought to make an excellent food pairing. My attempt with fettuccini carbonara was only so-s0, the dish felt too delicate compared to the wine that easily overpowered the pasta sauce. A better choice would have been a dish featuring game or beef, or a savory sauce with a heavier profile, such as alfredo or genovese sauce. But for the price point, this is a decent table wine to pair with dinner, especially in the under $12/bottle range, that manages to taste unique when you want to step outside your “normal” range of red wines.

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